BUDGET DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE

SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

UNEMPLOYMENT POSITION.

SOCIAL SECURITY COSTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Six members took part in the debate on the Financial Statement when it was continued in the House of Representatives yesterday. Speeches wore made alternately from the Opposition and Government sides of the House. Discussion on the Budget is generally protracted, for each speaker is allowed an hour in which to discuss this document. The first speaker was Mr J. Hargest, (Opposition, Awarua). who said that the Budget meant harder times, a general tightening of belts, higher costs to business and farming and a lower standard of living. The outcome would be a grave discouragement to industry. Another Opposition speaker, Mr A. E. Jull (Waipawa) challenged statements by members of the Government that the increase in taxation was to pay for defence expenditure, and suggested that it was actually lot the relief of unemployment. He also pointed out the serious effect of interest payments and loan liabilities on the revenues' of the highways fund. The other speech from the Opposition benches was that of Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo), who said that unemployment was as virulent today as it ever was. The Government speakers were Mr J. G. Barclay (Marsden). Mr A. H. Nordmeyer (Oamaru) and Mr E. P. Meachen (Marlborough). Mr Barclay said that by and large the Government was proud of the public works, which were leaving behind a great asset. The Government was giving some protection to the dairy farmers and it was willing to do the same for the sheep farmers. Mr Nordmeyer said that the cost of the social security security scheme was much below the Government's estimate and certainly far below the cost suggested by the Opposition when' the legislation was before Parliament last year.

The House rose at 1(1.30 p.m. till today.